"The following are the proposed improvements on the Mexico Public Schools to be paid for by the $25,000 bond issue to be voted on Saturday, Feb. 15. McMillan High School, the completion of the third floor of the McMillan High School to cost in the neighborhood of $8,500; South Side School, at the South Side School a four-room fire-proof building is to be erected separate from the present school building. The cost of this with other small improvements will be about $14,000; North Central School, at the North Central School a fire-proof stairway will be erected of reinforced concrete, a ventilation system will be installed and another room fixed for use in the basement; at the Garfield School a new walk will be constructed and several other improvements made."

50 Years Ago

"Work applications were up last month over December and over January of a year ago, reports Lloyd J. Tribble, manager of the state division of employment security office here for Audrain and Montgomery counties. The active file at the close of the month totaled 574, compared with 482 for December and 504 for a year ago. January new work applications numbered 163, including 80 women."

25 Years Ago

"Courtney Child Care Center in Mexico, which was founded more than 18 years ago, will close. Director Margot Cox-Bittner and the center's board of directors said today that the center will close on Feb. 29 due to a reduced number of children attending, and thus lack of income. The center is licensed as a non-profit facility, but in recent years has been unable to make enough money to support itself."

10 Years Ago

"Food in America is affordable. In fact, between Jan. 1 and Feb. 6, the average American will earn enough income to pay for his or her family's entire 2003 food supply. As a result, Farm Bureau is celebrating Thursday as Food Check-Out Day. According to the latest statistics from the Agriculture Department's (USDA's) Economic Research Service, American families and individuals currently spend an average of just 10 percent of their disposable personal income on food. This includes food and non-alcoholic beverages consumed at home and away from home."

The Yesterday In Mexico column is published daily in The Mexico Ledger.